Israel not fooling anyone with report
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
July 13, 2010 - 12:00am

It took only a month or so for the Israeli military to conclude its investigation into the deadly raid on the Freedom Flotilla and in particular, the Mavi Marmara. Given that the assault so outraged the world, alienated Israel’s allies and killed nine people, we would have thought it would take more than a few weeks to answer all the tough questions Israel is facing. But that, of course, is the point: Israel has no intention of answering inconvenient questions over an attack it feels entirely justified in carrying out.

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IDF to probe death of Palestinian protester at West Bank rally
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Anshel Pfeffer - July 12, 2010 - 12:00am

The Military Advocate General on Monday ordered the army's criminal investigations unit to investigate the death of a Palestinian protester who was killed by a tear gas canister at a demonstration in Bil'in in April 2009. The Military Advocate General had refused to open a criminal investigation into the death of Bassem Abu-Rahma, but on Monday changed its mind after expert testimony showed that the tear gas canister was aimed directly at Abu-Rahma and was fired in violation of military orders.

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IDF probe into Gaza flotilla likely to be more critical than expected
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel - July 2, 2010 - 12:00am

The internal military probe into the Israel Defense Forces raid on the Turkish aid flotilla to Gaza headed by Gen. (res. ) Giora Eiland is expected to request more time than it was originally allotted to reach its conclusions. It appears that members of Eiland's staff are of the belief that the scope of the army's mishaps is more extensive than originally thought. The committee's findings are certainly expected to be more critical than the statements made by senior IDF officers immediately after the May 31 incident on the Mavi Marmara.

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'Flotilla passengers were tortured'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
July 1, 2010 - 12:00am

The organization which sent the Gaza aid flotilla which was intercepted by the IDF earlier this month, released a report Thursday outlining the events of the raid. Describing the goal of the aid flotilla as "completely civilian in nature" and "carrying the conscience of the world," the report categorized the IDF interception as a terrorist attack carried out by the Israeli government in "international waters against civilians who had come together for peaceful purposes."

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Israel doesn't seem to want to really probe Gaza flotilla raid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Ze'ev Segal - (Analysis) June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

If former Supreme Court justice Jacob Turkel indeed resigns from the panel he heads, which is investigating the raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, he will be taking a step necessitated by both the committee's lack of investigatory powers to conduct a serious probe and its limited mandate. As things stand now, the committee is barred from examining the government's preparations for the flotilla's arrival.

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Israel weighs wider mandate for Gaza flotilla panel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM, June 30 (Reuters) - Israel may upgrade the mandate of its investigation of a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, by allowing it to subpoena witnesses, a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. The panel headed by former Israeli Supreme Court justice Jacob Turkel launched its probe on Monday and served notice that Netanyahu and his defence chief may be called to testify about the May 31 incident in which nine Turkish citizens were killed.

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Israeli inquiry into Gaza flotilla raid opens
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Joseph Nasr - June 28, 2010 - 12:00am

Israel's prime minister and defence chief will be called to testify in an investigation into a deadly raid on a Gaza aid flotilla, the leader of an Israeli commission of inquiry said in an opening statement on Monday. An international observer on the commission said everyone involved was determined it would be rigorous. Turkey, angered by the killing by Israeli commandos of nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists in a melee on a Gaza blockade-running vessel intercepted on May 31, has said the Israeli probe would be biased.

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'Pause before going to war, once again'?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Michael Jansen - June 24, 2010 - 12:00am

The Israeli liberal daily Haaretz carried a very illuminating article this week, written by Ari Shavit, who argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak are regarded by many Israelis as "twins", dependent on one another. Shavit reveals that while the atmosphere between Netanyahu and the White House is frosty, Vice President Joe Biden gets along just fine with Barak. For this reason and others, Netanyahu treats Barak with "respect".

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Malaysia pushing for UN debate on raid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yitzhak Benhorin - June 24, 2010 - 12:00am

Malaysia, backed by the Arab states, has initiated a UN debate regarding the Turkish flotilla events, which is slated to be held during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington. The Arab states and Non-Aligned countries are working to keep the issue on the international agenda.

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Israel launches Ofek 9 spy satellite
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
June 24, 2010 - 12:00am

The satellite's high resolution camera would significantly boost Israel's intelligence gathering, officials told local media. Israel's defence ministry said the Ofek 9 was launched from Palmachim air force base on its south coast near Tel Aviv. It is one of at least four Israeli spy satellites currently orbiting the Earth. "This provides Israel with greater operational flexibility, since we now have another set of eyes on a target," Chaim Eshed, the director of Israel's military space programme, told The Jerusalem Post.

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